FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2020
Contact: Alexis Erikson, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: (907) 443-8918
Important COVID-19 Numbers in the Bering Strait Region
Nome, Alaska – While the recent Nome outbreak is considered to be under control, the community of 3,800 remains under careful watch by Norton Sound Health Corporation’s team of health care experts. The outbreak will not be considered to be over until 14 days after the last positive patient leaves isolation.
There have been 93 COVID-19 positive cases since the mid-November outbreak in Nome. 80 individuals have recovered, including 8 patients who were released from isolation today. In Nome, there are currently 13 active cases, with zero active cases in our region’s villages.
The Bering Strait Region has seen a decline in the number of active and daily positive cases, while the number of COVID-19 tests administered have nearly doubled compared to the month of October. In October, there were approximately 6,000 COVID-19 tests administered, while the number of tests administered in November reached over 10,000.
COVID-19 Testing Numbers in the Region between 11/15 – 12/5
During the mid-November outbreak, there was a spike in the number of tests administered throughout the region for all close contacts and anyone who had concerns or displayed symptoms of COVID-19. As seen in the graph, there was an expected decline of the number of tests administered during the week of Thanksgiving, with a steady increase in the region’s villages and in Nome afterwards.
If you are considered to be a close contact to a person with COVID-19, it is important to quarantine for the full period of time recommended, even if you have recently tested negative. A person cannot test out of quarantine early. The newest CDC guidelines for close contacts includes an option to quarantine for a full 10 days without testing, or for a full 7 days with a test at day 7. If that test is negative at day 7, a person may come out of quarantine on day 8. These are new, shorter options to the standard 14 days of quarantine, which is still recommended when possible. If you have been identified as a close contact or have been directed to quarantine for any other reason and have a question, please call 907-434-0654.
